Chapter 282: Innate Sin

“Big Brother Bai Yang… what did you say?”

Big Brother Bai Yang frowned at me. “The game I designed for you was supposed to win either two Dao or nothing at all. So tell me, how did you earn just one Dao?”

“I… I…” I lowered my head and told him everything that had happened that day.

I explained that as soon as I saw people, my mind went completely blank, and I forgot everything in my notebook. But to keep the game going, I quickly came up with a simple one on the spot, and surprisingly, it worked and I earned some.

“I’m very disappointed in you.” Big Brother Bai Yang stood up and said, “You don’t need to stay here anymore.”

“Ah…?” I was terrified.

It seemed like Big Brother Bai Yang suddenly didn’t want me anymore.

“Brother Bai Yang… isn’t that a bit too much…?” Uncle Hu also stood up and said, “This kid didn’t follow your plan, but she still earned some Dao… and she’s way better than I am…”

“The disappointment I’m talking about…” Big Brother Bai Yang said to Uncle Hu, “is that she always tells the truth. She could have made up a reason to lie to me, but she didn’t, and that’s what disappoints me.”

“What?” I started to realize why Big Brother Bai Yang was angry… It seemed like he wanted me to lie to him? But why?

“Little Rat, you won’t survive here. Go find a place to die.” Big Brother Bai Yang said, “Dying now would be your release.”

“I… I…” His words sent a chill down my spine. I couldn’t understand how Big Brother Bai Yang, with his gentle voice, could say something so terrifying.

“Brother Bai Yang… why is that?” Uncle Hu asked, “Does that mean the only way to live in this wretched place is to lie? Even if we’ve all turned into this mess… couldn’t we at least try to protect a child?”

“Did you even listen to her game?” Big Brother Bai Yang shot back, “She set up such a useless game that she could die at the participants’ hands any time. You all know that once a game is designed, it can’t be changed! Those two women today happened to have some conscience, but what about later? Are we supposed to let her die after we’ve grown attached to her?”

“But… but we can’t just let her…” Uncle Hu slowly bowed his head. They all seemed so sad.

Why were they so sad?

Was it really like what Dad said back then… that I’m just a burden?

As long as I’m here, none of them will be happy.

Because of my birth, Dad left, and a few years later, Mom died because of me.

Only Grandma was willing to cook potatoes for me.

“I think Brother Bai Yang is right…” Uncle Hei Yang spoke up, “Letting this child live isn’t helping her. She’s only about ten years old. Do you want her to witness all the ugliness of human nature?”

The usually cheerful Uncle She had a serious look in his eyes tonight. He shook his head and said:

“So letting this child die is her release? Our hands are already stained with blood, and now we’re not even sparing a child?”

“What kind of thinking is that?” Uncle Hei Yang asked, “We are the Sheng Xiao! In the end, we have to kill to escape this place! Do you really think you’re some kind of immortal?”

The group argued fiercely, and although I didn’t fully understand what they meant, I knew it was all because of me.

“Uncles… please don’t fight…” I stood up and thanked them again, “You’ve given me two full meals, and I’m already so grateful.”

The uncles fell silent, watching me, and I had no idea what they were thinking.

“This… this is the Dao that Big Brother Bai Yang gave me during the day.” I took out the four small balls and placed them on the table, “And I earned a pack of peanuts today…”

I pulled the crumpled pack of peanuts from my pocket and put it on the table.

“I didn’t eat any… You uncles can have it…”

Seeing that none of them moved, I smiled at them and said:

“Uncles, please don’t argue. I’m just a burden… I’m really not worth fighting over…”

I slowly backed away to the door, thanked them once more, and then opened the door and left.

It’s okay, really… it’s fine…

This isn’t the first time I’ve been abandoned.

Dad abandoned me, and so did the aunt and uncle who adopted me. It’s really fine…

I won’t be sad. I hope the uncles aren’t sad either.

They’re good people. How can they be sad because of me?

But crying with this mask on is so uncomfortable. My tears are sticking to my face.

I’ve messed up everything in my life.

Being a kid is so hard. Sometimes you get praised for listening, and sometimes you get scolded for it.

If I could, I wish I could grow up by tomorrow.

Walking down the hallway, I remembered when I was four, Mom was crying and asked me to kick the chair out from under her feet. She said she didn’t dare do it herself.

I was scared too… but Mom was crying and begging me, so I did what she said in the end.

That time, I listened to her, but Mom hung there and never woke up again.

From then on, besides Grandma, no one wanted to get near me. They said I was a burden who killed my own mother.

Maybe my existence is just meant to cause trouble for others. I need to find a place to hide away.

I left the room… but where should I go?

I miss Da Huang from the village. Maybe Grandma and Da Huang are the only ones who really like me.

It’s okay to be alone… I can start working earlier.

I’ll just live in the little storeroom. If I get hungry at night, I’ll go out and find something to eat. During the day, I’ll be there to greet the participants…

“Ah!”

I felt like I bumped into something. Looking up, I saw two rabbit sisters.

“A little rat…?” They looked down at me, “Whose little rat are you? Why are you wandering the hallway so late at night?”

“I…” I thought for a moment. I didn’t seem to belong to anyone anymore, and suddenly I cried even harder, “Sisters, no… no one wants me anymore…”

One of the rabbit sisters quickly covered my mouth and said:

“Little girl… think carefully. You must have a ‘teacher,’ right? Who is your teacher?”

I knew I’d already caused Big Brother Bai Yang too much trouble. I couldn’t bother him anymore.

I shook my head, moved her hand away, and said:

“Sisters… I really don’t have a teacher. I’m going to start ‘working’ now…”

She still looked panicked and tried to cover my mouth again, but the other rabbit sister spoke up:

“It’s no use. She’s said it twice now. The teacher must have heard. Let’s just take her.”

“Sigh…” The rabbit sister who had covered my mouth suddenly looked sad, “Little rat, you’re so naive… Our teacher has an arrangement with the Earth Dragon… He specifically takes in girls that no one wants…”

Their teacher…?

Would all the teachers here be as kind as Big Brother Bai Yang?

“Then… will your teacher give me food…?” I asked quietly, “I don’t eat much. Just one boiled potato a day is enough.”

“Food…” The two rabbit sisters glanced at each other and finally sighed, “Little rat… as long as you’re sensible… you’ll get plenty to eat…”

“Sensible?”

I smiled and nodded. That shouldn’t be too hard.

Grandma always told me I was very sensible, so I should be able to make their teacher like me…

The two rabbit sisters led me to a room door. This room was different from the others.

The door here smelled bad.

“Little rat… don’t hate us…” One rabbit sister whispered, “We have our own tasks…”

Before I could say anything, they opened the door and pushed me inside. A foul, fishy stench wafted out from within.